Jaw crusher adjustment



Oct. 21, 1969 R. B. DE Dir-:MAR ETAL 3,473,744

JAW CRUSHER ADJUSTMENT aven-rosas' ZON/QLD B. E @l5/5719A Feen (wer-15 9261452 Oct. 21, f1969 R, 5,795 DIEMAR ETAL 3,473,744

JAW CRUSHER ADJUSTMENT Filed 001.. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT'r'cRNEYS ILS. Cl. 241-219 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A jaw crusher for the reduction of rock and ore having means for rapidly releasing the movable jaw for effecting adjustment thereof and for thereafter effectively clamping the same in adjusted position.

BACKGROUND Jaw crushers for reducing rock and similar crushable materials to a desired size have been in widespread use for many years. Such crushers consist generally of a pair of cooperating jaws mounted in a suitable frame, one of the jaws being fixed and the other being driven through an eccentric and being rockably fulcrumed upon a toggle plate which is, in turn, fulcrumed on a toggle block. In such devices, the degree of iineness of the product is varied by adjusting the rocking jaw relative to the stationary jaw through the toggle block to thereby vary the discharge opening between the jaws at the lower extremity of the crushing zone.

In the past, these adjustments in the size of the discharge chamber have normally been accomplished by a series of rather llaborious, time-consuming, manual operations frequently necessitating either the complete removal of the toggle link and replacement of the same by a toggle link of a different size, or manual release of a series of bolts and spring rods to permit movement of the rocking jaw and toggle block for insertion or removal of shims followed by readjustment and tightening operations on the bolts and rods. Although some attempts have heretofore been made to reduce the manual labor normally involved by providing power driven jaw adjustment means in the form of hydraulic jacks, most of the prior arrangements for coupling the power actuators to the toggle block and for permitting access to the shims for insertion or removal thereof have been undesirably complicated and costly and still do not provide for convenient access from the exterior of the crushing machine.

The aforesaid objections have been obviated to some extent by the structure shown and described in United States Patent No. 3,166,259, issued Jan. 19, 1965, to Fred Curtis Archer and Thomas H. Lohr. In this prior structure, the toggle beam is adjusted by means of hydraulic rams, with shims being inserted -behind the toggle beam to retain the same in its adjusted position. However, jack screws are utilized at the top and rear of the toggle beam to pull the beam upwardly and rearwardly respectively and thereby clamp the same in position, and these jack or cap screws require manual manipulation.

SUMMARY It is accordingly an object of the present invention to automate the entire jaw adjusting operation, including the clamping and release of the toggle beam.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved adjustment system for jaw crushers which utilizes mechanical means for clamping the toggle beam, and thus the jaw, in adjusted position, together with power means for releasing the beam and jaw for adjustment by other power means.

nited States Patent O ICC Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved jaw adjustment for crushers in which the toggle beam and movable jaw are clamped in adjusted position by means of one or more springs which are constantly under compression, the clamping force being released -by means of power actuators such as hydraulic rams to permit readjustment of the toggle beam and jaw.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained toggle beam clamp and release device for jaw crushers which utilizes a stacked series of conical disc springs for applying the clamping force and a hydraulic ram or jack for overcoming the clamping force to release the beam and the jaw for adjustment by other power means.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed descrip1 tion.

THE DRAWINGS A clear conception of the construction and operation of a typical jaw crusher embodying the improvements constituting the invention will be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

FIGURE l is an approximately central vertical section through a typical jaw Crusher embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the crusher taken from the back side of the swing jaw with parts being broken away to reveal normally hidden structure;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary and part sectional view taken from one side of the machine at 3--3 of FIGURE 2 and showing one of the hydraulic actuators and toggle beam adjusting devices with the toggle beam in clamped condition;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary and part sectional view of one of the adjusting devices taken from an end of the toggle beam but with the toggle beam released for adjustment;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing a somewhat modified clamping and release mechanism, the toggle beam being shown in clamped condition; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the adjustment shims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While the invention has been shown and described herein as being especially applicable to the swing jaw of a crusher of a particular type, it is not intended to thereby unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the improvements by reason of such restricted embodiment; and it is also contemplated that certain specific descriptive terminology used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings, the jaw crusher shown therein as embodying the invention comprises, in general, a main frame 8 having side walls 9 suitably secured thereto in parallel spaced relation to provide a housing for a stationary jaw die 10 and a movable jaw die 11. The stationary jaw die may be rigidly secured to the main frame 8 in a suitable manner as by means of bolts 12, and the movable jaw die 11 is normally secured within a recess formed in the face of the swinging jaw frame 13 as by means of a wedge 14 locked in place by a bolt 1S. The swinging ja-w frame 13 is suspended at its upper end from an eccentric shaft 16, and a swinging jaw guard 17 may be provided to shield the bearings 18 at the ends of the eccentric shaft if desired. The eccentric 16 is driven in a well-known manner through a grooved sheave 19 and a suitable drive motor, not shown, and the bearings 18 may be greased or pressure lubricated as by means of a pressure lubricating device supplying oil thereto through conduits 21.

Adjacent its lower end, the movable jaw frame 13 is rockably fulcrumed upon a toggle plate 22 extending transversely across the rear of the jaw frame between the crusher side walls 9, the toggle plate 22 in turn being fulcrumed on a toggle beam or block 23. In the improved structure embodying the present invention, the toggle beam 23 is of a length somewhat greater than the width of the housing and has its opposite ends extending through alined elongated openings or slots 24 in the side walls 9, the slots 24 forming adjustment ways within which the toggle beam is guided to different positions of adjustment as will hereinafter be more fully described.

To retain the ends of the toggle or toggle plate 22 within its toggle seats 26 and 27 provided at the lower end of the movable jaw frame 13 and at the forward end of the toggle beam 23 respectively, a tension rod and spring assembly is provided. As shown, the tension rod and spring assembly comprises a tension rod 28 pivotally secured at 29 to the jaw frame 13 and having its opposite end suspended from and carried by the toggle beam 23. As shown in FIGURES l and 2, a bracket 29' is secured to the toggle beam 23 as by means of a cap screw 30, and the free end of the tension rod 28 extends through an aperture in the bracket 29 and is provided with a sleeve 31 embraced by a coil spring 32 which is cornpressed between a pair of washers 33 retained in adjusted position by means of lock nuts 34 at the end of the tension rod 28. Since the spring and tension rod assembly thus provided is carried entirely by the toggle beam and movable jaw, this assembly moves with the toggle beam 23 and jaw 13 as adjustments are effected and the need for frequent readjustment in the tension is accordingly eliminated. Also, the rear of the crusher is unobstructed and the Crusher may moreover be readily mounted on its foundation. As shown, a guard in the form of an elongated plate 35, S-shaped in cross-section, extending between and secured at its ends as by welding to the crusher side walls 9 rearwardly of the slots 24 may be provided for the toggle beam 23, and this plate 35 also adds rigidity to the jaw crusher assembly. v

As hereinabove indicated, the ends of the toggle beam 23 extend through the slots 24 in the sidewalls 9, and the position of the toggle beam within the way slots 24 may be adjusted by means of a spacer block 36 and shims 37 placed between the toggle beam 23 and the rearward end of each way slot. To move the relatively heavy toggle beam 23 together with the toggle plate 22 and lower end of the rockable jaw 13 to different positions of adjustment for insertion or removal of the shims 37, an actuator such as a hydraulic ram and cylinder 38 is provided at each end of the toggle beam exteriorly of the housing side walls 9, and since the adjustment shims and power devices at both ends of the toggle beam 23 are identical, with the power cylinders being coupled together for simultaneous actuation in a well-known manner, only one end of the toggle beam and its attendant adjustment mechanism has been illustrated in the drawings. However, it should be understood that the other end of the beam 23 is provided with identical structure.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the power actuator 38 shown therein has its cylinder end pivotally secured as at 39 to brace or bracket member 40 rigidly attached to the crusher frame as between a lower base flange 41 and an inclined reinforcing flange 42 formed on the exterior of the side wall 9. The piston 43 of the hydraulic ram is, in turn, pivotally secured as at 44 in a toggle seat to the rear face of the toggle beam 23. The hydraulic ram 38 is double acting and receives pressure uid selectively through supply conduits 45, 46 in a well-known manner to thereby selectively extend or retract the piston. When released, the toggle beam 23 may thus be moved with the aid of the hydraulic power mechanism with in the way Slots 24 to permit insertion or removal of the shims.

To retain the toggle beam 23 in its adjusted positions upon insertion of the required number of shims 37, the present invention provides an improved automatically operable and remotely controllable mechanism. Such mechanism replaces the cap or jack screws heretofore employed for pulling the toggle beam rearwardly against the shims as well as those previousy used for pulling the toggle beam upwardly into rm engagement with the upper wall of the way slot 24.

In accordance with the invention, a threaded stud 50 having a nut 51 threaded thereon and carrying an axially stacked nest of conical disc springs 52 is utilized for exerting a clamping force on the toggle beam 23 to retain the same in its adjusted position. This stud 50 is carried by a base plate 53 and extends freely through an aperture 54 in the plate 53 and through an elongated opening or slot 55 into threaded engagement with a bore 56 in the toggle beam 23. Thus, when the stud 50 is applied as shown in FIGURE 3 and the nut 51 is brought down in assembly to compress the conical disc springs 52 to a predetermined extent, the springs 52 provide a lifting force to the toggle beam 23 to clamp and retain the toggle beam rmly against the upper wall 57 of the way slot 24.

Secured to the base plate 53 as by welding or the like is an inverted U-shaped member or yoke 60. The plate 53 and member 60 thus provide an integral stirrup-shaped cage, and secured to the upper wall 61 of this stirrupshaped mounting in axial alignment with the stud is a hydraulic ram 62. Normally, the ram piston 63 is retracted within the cylinder 64 and is out of contact with the adjacent end of the stud 50 as shown in FIGURE 3. However, when it is desired to unclamp the toggle beam 23 and release the same for readjustment, the ram 62 is energized in a well known manner and the piston 63 thereof is thereby extended and is projected against the end of the stud 50 as shown in FIGURE 4. The conical disc springs 52 are thereby compressed as the stud 50 is pushed downwardly and the toggle beam 22 is accordingly released for readjustment along the way slot 24 through the expedient of the two-way ram 38, it being understood that the self-contained stirrup-shaped mounting 53, 60 rides along the top of the side rib 42 along with the toggle beam during its adjustment.

While only one of the spring clamp and hydraulic release devices has been described, the toggle beam is provided with a similar device at each of its ends. The hydraulic adjusting rams 38 are double-acting as shown and should be coupled in the hydraulic circuit for simultaneous actuation. After adjustment and during Crusher operation, the crushing forces and the clamping action of the disc springs 52, retains the toggle beam firmly seated in its adjusted position in the way slots 24. The release rams 62 should also be hydraulically coupled for simultaneous operation, and these rams may be single acting with a spring return.

In larger Crushers, it may be found necessary or desirable to provide a greater clamping force for the toggle beam. In such instances, an arrangement of the type shown in FIGURE 5 may be utilized. In this modification, a pair of spring clamps, comprising threaded studs 70 each having a nest of conical disc springs 72 compressed between a nut 71 and a base plate 73, are provided. The exposed ends of the studs 70 are spanned by a bridge plate or yoke 74, and a single hydraulic release ram 75 may thus be utilized for simultaneously compressing both sets of disc springs 72 to release the toggle beam for adjustment or a plurality of rams may be used for this purpose, the ram 75 being positioned to act on the studs 70 through the medial portion of the plate or yoke 74. While the spring clamp and hydraulic release mechanisms of the preferred embodiment as well as the modification have been shown as being carried in stirrup-shaped mountings which are open at their ends, these mountings may be ot' dierent shapes and may be enclosed by side cover plates to protect the mechanisms from dust and debris.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the shims 37 are generally square or rectangular for reception in the way slot 24 rearwardly of the toggle beam. These shims are, of course, of various widths so that an inlinite number of adjustments can be eiected by selecting the proper shims. Also, the depending portion 42 of the rigid ange 42 is preferably extended yunder the lower edge of the side opening 24 as at 42" to thereby afford rigidity to the structure while providing a support for the shims as they are inserted or removed at the end of the toggle beam. As a further convenience, each shim 37 may be formed with a ring-shaped hand grip 78 for ease in manipulating the same, and the end of the way slot 24 should be squared as through use of a semi-circular shim backing block 36 or the like.

We claim:

ll. A jaw crusher comprising, a housing, means forming way slots associated with said housing, a movable jaw suspended within said housing, a toggle plate within said housing cooperating with said jaw for supporting the same, a toggle beam extending across said housing and projecting into the way slots for supporting said toggle plate, means for moving said toggle beam to selected positions of adjustment along the way slots, means for clamping said toggle beam in adjusted position, and power means effective to overcome the clamping action of said clamping means and thereby release said toggle beam for adjustment.

2. A jaw crusher according to claim 1, wherein the means for clamping the toggle beam includes a plurality of axially alined conical disc springs.

3. A jaw crusher according to claim 2, wherein the conical disc springs are stacked about a stud secured to the toggle beam.

4. A jaw crusher according to claim 3, wherein the conical disc springs are compressed between a nut threaded for adjustment on the stud and a plate interposed between said springs and the toggle beam.

5. A jaw crusher according to claim 1, wherein each of the way slots are formed with a slotted wall and the clamping means includes a plurality of axially alined conical disc springs stacked about a stud secured to the toggle beam and extending through the slot in said wall.

6. A jaw crusher according to claim 5, wherein the conical disc springs are compressed between a nut threaded for adjustment on the stud and a plate interposed between said springs and the slotted wall of the way slot, said plate being slidable along said slotted wall when the toggle beam is released for adjustment.

7. A jaw crusher according to claim 6, wherein the plate is provided with an inverted U-shaped yoke, and the power means comprises a hydraulic ram secured to said yoke and cooperable with the stud to further compress the springs and release the toggle beam for adjustment.

8. A jaw crusher according to claim 5, wherein the stud and the conical disc springs together with the power means for releasing the toggle beam are all mounted within a stirrup-shaped cage slidable along the slotted wall of the way slot.

9. A jaw crusher according to claim 1, wherein power means is also provided for moving the toggle beam along the way slots to etect adjustments when said beam is released, and shims are provided for preventing movement of said toggle beam in one direction in its adjusted position.

10. A jaw crusher according to claim 1, wherein means is provided for adjusting the effective force applied by the clamping means, and the power means is a hydraulic ram cooperable with said clamping means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 461,050 10/1891 Schranz 241-219 578,357 3/1897 Pfouts 241-219 3,166,259 1/1965 Archer et al 241-219 3,318,540 5/1967 Gilbert 241-219 X FRANK T. YOST, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

